Chapter 45: Descending and Ascending the Mountain

Although days without major events can be very fulfilling, time also passes by in a flash!

In the seventeenth year of Jiading, during the leap eighth month—which was when Qiu Chuji sent a letter last year stating his intention to head north to the great desert—Emperor Ningzong of Song passed away...

This year is the first year of Baoqing, and the new emperor of the Great Song is someone named Zhao Yun. It seems that fellow Zhao Yuruo has completely missed his chance!

Thinking thus, Qiu Zhiqing could not help but feel a certain sympathy for that candidate for the crown prince who was kept in deep seclusion in the palace. He wondered how Uncle Master Cuixuzi was doing...

While Qiu Zhiqing was worrying about his little childhood playmate Zhao Yuruo, little did he know that the latter, through the maneuvering of Shi Miyuan with a forged imperial edict, had successfully squeezed out the original crown prince, changed his name to Zhao Yun, and successfully ascended to the throne as the fifth emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty.

As for whether he was living better than Qiu Zhiqing, it was a matter of drinking water and knowing for oneself whether it was hot or cold...

Several senior elders successively sent letters. Ma Yu stated that he had initially established a mountain sect in the Jiange area. Hao Datong said he had taken a fancy to Chaoyang Peak on Mount Hua, which was an excellent place for gathering vital energy, and they would settle down on Mount Hua in the future...

Liu Chuxuan had also returned to his hometown in Shandong, establishing his mountain sect on Mount Lao; Tan Chuduan certainly knew how to choose a location, building his mountain sect upon Mount Heng, the Northern Mountain; Sun Bu'er had also returned to her hometown in Shandong, establishing her mountain sect on Mount Tai...

Wang Chuyi also settled in Shandong, building his mountain sect on Mount Kunyu in Dengzhou (Yantai)...

Coupled with the Longmen Sect at the Changchun Temple in Yanjing, this essentially scattered the entire strength of the Quanzhen Taoism outward...

Thus, the Quanzhen Taoism formed a basic northern pattern: Yanjing and Mount Heng acting as mutual horns; Jiange, Mount Zhongnan, and Mount Hua supporting one another; and Mount Tai, Mount Lao, and Mount Kunyu standing as a tripod.

As for why they did not go to the south to propagate the Dao...

Li Zhichang sent a letter stating that Qiu Chuji had not met Genghis Khan in the northern desert because Genghis Khan had gone on a western expedition. They were currently following the route of Genghis Khan's western expedition, hoping to successfully find him without getting lost in the vast desert...

Spring departed and autumn arrived; the Mongol western expedition concluded, and Qiu Chuji also returned to the Changchun Temple in Yanjing. Accompanied with his return was the fruit of his western journey—the "Edict Prohibiting Killing" issued by Genghis Khan!

Among its provisions, besides exempting the Central Plains regions occupied by the Mongols from three years of taxes and altering the practice of massacring every city that was breached...

After everyone finished reading the letters sent by Li Zhichang one by one, the Chongyang Hall fell into a brief silence...

A moment later, Wang Zhijin said with no small amount of worry: "Senior and junior fellow apprentices, although Uncle Master Qiu did not agree to become the imperial preceptor of the Mongols, Genghis Khan clearly harbors the intention of conferring upon our Quanzhen Taoism the status of the state religion. I fear this might impair our sect's reputation..."

Regarding this, the optimistic Fang Zhiqi was rather open-minded: "I practice my own Dao; when the vast majority of people in the villages across the world practice the martial arts and techniques of our Quanzhen Sect and conduct themselves according to our Quanzhen principles, what difference does it make whether we accept an imperial conferment or not?"

"Do not acknowledge, do not take a stance, do not waver! I simply cultivate my own Dao, why seek anything externally?" It must be said that since entering the Dao, Yin Zhiping had become increasingly infatuated with the art of internal elixirs. Although his martial arts had somewhat lapsed, his spiritual realm had elevated considerably.

"Then, are we going to the Mount Hua Sword Discussion mentioned by Uncle Master?" What concerned Wang Zhijin was another matter entirely, and he was somewhat eager to try. His master, Hao Datong, was right on Mount Hua; if he went, he could visit his master and watch the Mount Hua Sword Discussion at the same time.

Seeing that all his fellow apprentices wore eager expressions, Qiu Zhiqing said: "Those fellow apprentices who wish to go may go. Any disciples in the sect who wish to go may also travel together. I shall hold down the fort here at Chongyang Palace!"

As for the Mount Hua Sword Discussion, he was not particularly interested in it. The one twenty-five years ago, fought for the possession of the *Nine Yin Manual*, could still be said to have some stakes involved. As for now, it was probably left with nothing more than the empty title of "Number One Under Heaven."

What use was "Number One Under Heaven"? No use at all! Aside from attracting unwanted attention, it could not bring any substantive benefits to Quanzhen Taoism. Well, the main reason was that Qiu Zhiqing privately felt he couldn't beat those people...

After all, when people are vying for the title of Number One Under Heaven, you surely couldn't deploy the Heavenly Dipper North Burial Formation and gang up on them together, right? By then it would become: So-and-so can fight a few Heavenly Dipper North Burial Formations; oh, you mean Number One Under Heaven? He can fight two Heavenly Dipper North Burial Formations, one old and one young...

Just thinking about it felt disgraceful!

Three years ago, he entered the Dao and also began practicing the *Purple Mist Skill*. Through nearly three years of gathering vital energy and regulation, he had become increasingly harmonious and reserved. He believed that in another five to eight years, he could step into the second realm of Dao—the Primordial Spirit!

Only then would he be qualified to practice the *Innate Skill* left behind by the Patriarch Wang Chongyang! Therefore, ambitious young knights seeking youthful fame are actually advised not to join Quanzhen Taoism, because simply digesting the Daoist scriptures takes up a tremendous amount of time...

In July of the second year of Baoqing in the Southern Song Dynasty, Yin Zhiping led several junior apprentices to Mount Hua to visit Hao Datong (and incidentally watch the Mount Hua Sword Discussion), while Qiu Zhiqing remained behind at Chongyang Palace as promised.

In the ninth month, a disciple reported that a young maiden had come looking for him by name, and had even beaten up several disciples! With that, the disciple looked at Qiu Zhiqing with intense curiosity.

That disciple was curious, but Qiu Zhiqing was even more curious. He didn't seem to know any young women, did he? How could someone come looking for him, and by name at that?

However, since the situation was unclear, going out to take a look would make everything clear!

Arriving at the entrance, he saw several mountain-guarding disciples lying on the ground groaning, some clutching their hands and breaking out in cold sweat! Fortunately, none of them were screaming or behaving too outlandishly; the quality education of Quanzhen over the past few years could not be considered an utter failure.

Looking closely, in the middle of the courtyard stood a figure dressed in white, stepping on lotus cloud-walking shoes, her hair styled into drooping double-looped buns, adorned with a silver-winged butterfly hairpin. Her charming yet refined countenance still retained a trace of blusher from the recent skirmish...

Qiu Zhiqing stepped forward to check the disciples' injuries. Fortunately, it was just dislocations! He initially intended to pop them back into place casually, but then recalled that the Medical Pavilion had several newly enrolled disciples who urgently needed clinical experience...

Thus, Qiu Zhiqing instructed: "It's nothing serious, just dislocations. Would a few junior apprentices please carry them to the Medical Hall to be treated!"

After arranging matters for his junior apprentices, Qiu Zhiqing looked toward this fairy-like figure. Though she felt somewhat familiar, he ultimately could not remember where he had seen her. He couldn't help asking: "I heard my disciple's report that this lay practitioner is looking for me. May I ask if we are old acquaintances face-to-face?"

To his surprise, this beautiful woman opened her mouth and almost caused Qiu Zhiqing's composure to shatter...

"Yo~~ Now you know to call me a lay practitioner? Back when you kept badgering people for honey, weren't you calling me 'little bride' every breath you took? And calling yourself a Daoist priest—back when you ate..."

"Cough, cough~~" Qiu Zhiqing hurriedly interrupted her attempt to air his dark history. If the junior disciples heard about this, how could he lead the team in the future? Besides, why did everyone from your Ancient Tomb Sect like to wear white? Weren't they afraid of frightening themselves inside the ancient tomb?

"So it's the little Miss Li! After all these years apart, you've actually grown into such a celestial beauty. It seems this humble Daoist was blind; please, this way!" With that, he guided her toward the Chongyang Hall.

Taking their seats and being served tea, after dismissing the disciples, Qiu Zhiqing curiously asked: "I wonder what brings the little Miss Li here this time?" This was what puzzled him most, as he remembered that her master harbored a deep aversion to Quanzhen Daoist priests!

"Nothing much. I'm just leaving Mount Zhongnan and wanted to come see you old playmates. Where are Fang Zhiqi and Liu Zhiyuan? Why aren't they around?" Clearly, she had not come specifically to look for Qiu Zhiqing; she merely wished to bid farewell to her childhood memories.

Qiu Zhiqing did not realize this, and instead smiled: "Senior Brother Liu has gone to Mount Heng, and Senior Brother Fang has gone to Mount Hua, neither has returned yet. Miss Li has rather poor timing."

After the two chatted for a moment, Qiu Zhiqing finally understood. Earlier this year, she had encountered her lifelong nemesis—Lu Zhanyuan. Her master had told them to grow old together in the ancient tomb!

As a result, Lu Zhanyuan claimed he was returning home to inform his parents, but never came back. Having waited for several months without any news, this headstrong master of her own mind stubbornly believed that Lu Zhanyuan must have encountered some difficulty, and thus decided to descend the mountain to find him!

Much like many exasperated and grieving parents, her master, having no other choice, had uttered those words that sounded heartless yet were ultimately a final plea for retention: "Today, once you step out the doors of the Ancient Tomb, you need never return again!"

And this stubborn soul made the choice that peers in similar circumstances almost always make...

Perhaps feeling that there were still fond attachments on Mount Zhongnan that she missed, she had come to Chongyang Palace to bid farewell to a few of them before setting out to pursue her own poetry and distant horizons...

Qiu Zhiqing did not know whether she would follow the trajectory of her original path, but harboring a wish for all things good in the world, he still walked her to the mountain gate.

"That's right, aren't your divination arts supposed to be very accurate? Why don't you divine a hexagram for me?"

Looking at Li Mochou, who had walked a few paces away before turning back to ask brightly, Qiu Zhiqing actually wanted to tell her that he didn't know how to do divination at all. Yet, thinking of the "Little Liu Ren Speed Calculation" taught to him by the old Daoist priest years ago,

he acted on a sudden impulse and asked: "Very well, what are you divining for?"

Li Mochou's expression first darkened, but then she realized he probably wasn't scolding her. Still, her pleasant mood vanished by more than half, and she unhappily replied: "Divine my future!"

To her surprise, Qiu Zhiqing's next words made her turn around and leave without looking back...

"Emptiness and Demise... I'm afraid Miss Li is going to make a wasted trip this time. Although you will not obtain what you desire, if you parse the omen, peace and health can be found. Just try to look at things more openly..." Watching the retreating figure, Qiu Zhiqing swallowed back the half-spoken sentence: "Actually, I'm not very good at divination!"

After blowing in the memory-laden autumn wind for a while, Qiu Zhiqing turned around, intending to return to Chongyang Palace, when he saw a group of people approaching from afar...